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| Blackpool PD3 532 still wears its Eastbourne colour scheme and side advert (Photo "Colorado King" via British Buses in USA Facebook group with permission) |
Blackpool PD3 532 has recently been reported in Castle Rock, Colorado, USA - after some years in the wilderness. One of the final batch of 15 PD3s purchased in 1968. Many had short lives, withdrawn in the early 1980s - but 532 lasted until 1985 when it became a driver trainer alongside sisters 516 and 520.
It continued as a trainer until 1987 when it was, surprisingly, selected for a return to service. Work to return it to bus specification was drawn out - it was repainted into the latest green and cream livery with a green skirt in July 1987- as also applied to sister 503 - but it was not until January 1988 that it entered service. Its return was short lived as it, and the other nine survivors, were laid up after the 1988 summer season and 532 became the first to leave - swapped with Eastbourne Buses for an open top PD2 in February 1989. Repainted in their blue and cream livery, it ran as fleet number 81 until withdrawal in 1993.
It was a curious addition to the Stevenson's of Uttoxeter fleet - though they did not repaint it and in 1994 it was exported to Canada, intially used by Photobus in Alberta, but by 1997 was 'resting' in Calgary. From 2002 it was advertised on EBay on a few occasions but has now been reported in Colorado - over 1,100 miles from its last known home. Its new owner also has a Bristol Lodekka and is intending to restore both.
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